Arab-Americans Gain a Higher Political Profile

Published: October 19, 2003

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''Whether we agree with them or not, the fact that they addressed the issues before us without dodging them is of real importance,'' said Ahmad Chebbani, chairman of the Arab-American Chamber of Commerce in Michigan.

Mr. Zogby said the fact that the Palestinian issue was addressed at all is a marked change. He referred to what he called a period of ''deafening silence'' during the 1980's and 1990's when many politicians chose to avoid possible conflicts of interest by simply not engaging with Arab-American groups.

Before this year, the last presidential contenders to address the annual gathering in person were Bob Dole and Jesse Jackson in 1988. In 1984, the Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale returned checks from Arab-American donors. In 1988, Michael Dukakis, the Democratic nominee, rejected the endorsement of an Arab-American group.

Mr. Dole, despite his earlier speech before the convention, refused to meet with Arab-American leaders when he was the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 1996. Arab-American groups also had a difficult time making inroads with President Clinton early on in his first term.

''Twenty years ago Arab-Americans could not even have discussions on the Middle East with candidates,'' Mr. Zogby said. ''Today we have candidates standing before us supporting a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.''

Though politics played heavy at the weekend event, the gathering was also aimed at forging links with other groups. In between candidate speeches, attendees met for workshops on topics ranging from grooming young leaders to improving relations with law enforcement.

At a session on ethnic coalition building, representatives from national Latino and South Asian organizations discussed hate crimes, census undercounts and how to address new immigration-related policies. A spokesman from the N.A.A.C.P. joined a panel of lawyers and activists to discuss increasing the prominence of civil liberties as an election issue.

Though some attendees had already made up their minds about which candidate they would support, many others were waiting to see what develops over the next several months.

''I'm a loyal Republican,'' said Sherine El-Abd, chairwoman of the Arab-American Republican caucus in New Jersey and a civil rights commissioner in the state. ''But I didn't leave Egypt when I was 18, uproot myself from my family, to come to a country that ignores civil rights. It will be very difficult for me to support someone who is trying to dismantle my dream.''

Ms. El-Abd said she did not agree with all the views expressed during the event. She thought several of the political leaders were ''patronizing in their tone'' and misdirected in their positions. But the event as a whole left her feeling more optimistic that Arab-Americans could have some effect on the political process.

''I figure they may not be entirely sincere, but at least they are here,'' she said.

She added, somewhat tongue-in-cheek: ''They are now being as aggressively insincere with us as they are with other communities that they want to court. I think it's a step forward.''

Photos: Carol Moseley Braun spoke yesterday at the Arab American Institute conference in Michigan. (Photo by Getty Images); James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, said that for candidates and all Americans, ''Our issues are your issues.'' (Photo by Associated Press)